The Readers Digest polled 1000 families and researched school results, crime levels and other data to compile its index of where its best to bring up a family. West Berkshire came 228th, and was soundly beaten by such safe and pleasant havens as Andover (76th), Warrington (79th) and Plymouth (158th).

The survey has caused uproar down the road in Reading, which was ranked bottom out of 408 districts in England, Scotland and Wales, but Readers Digest is standing by the results. Reading is apparently thought to be a worse place to bring a family up than Birmingham, Liverpool or Grimsby.

In the south, Winchester - regularly tipped as the best place to relocate to - came 47th, Salisbury came 159th, Kennet was 189th, and Wokingham (211th), Vale of White Horse (212nd) all fared better than the Newbury area.

However, Newbury can take some pride after beating Bracknell (271), Southampton (305), Milton Keynes (399), Slough (381), and Swindon (391).

Newbury.net fans can read the full details here:

http://www.readersdigest.co.uk/images/files/Best%20Places%20to%20Bring%20Up%20a%20Family%20full%20results.pdf